A much-needed citizens' manual that explains the evasion of moral principles that underlie appeals to patriotism, and the difference between a vibrant and an empty, stage-managed democracy. Vital reading for anyone who would seek to forge a viable alternative politics in the contemporary U.S.

As we approach the elections of 2004, U.S. progressives are faced with the challenge of how to confront our unresponsive and apparently untouchable power structures. With millions of anti-war demonstrators glibly dismissed as a "focus group," and with the collapse of political and intellectual dialogue into slogans and imperatives used to stifle protest — "Support the Troops," We Are the Greatest Nation On Earth," etc. — a state of hopelessness and cynicism can become overwhelming.

Citizens of the Empire probes deeply into the sense of disempowerment that has resulted from the Left's inability to halt the violent and repressive course of post-9/11 U.S. policy. In this passionate and very personal exploration of what it means to be a citizen of the world's most powerful, affluent and militarized nation in an era of imperial expansion, Jensen offers a potent antidote to leftists' despair over the future of democracy.

In a plainspoken deconstruction of the dominant political rhetoric — intentionally crafted to depress political discourse and activism — Jensen reveals the contradictions and falsehoods of the prevailing myths by using common-sense analogies that provide the reader with a clear-thinking rebuttal and a way to move forward with progressive political work and discussions.

With an ethical framework that integrates political, intellectual and emotional responses to thedisheartening events of the past two years, Jensen examines the ways in which society has been led to this point and offers renewed hope for constructive engagement.

How should American progressives respond to the "War on Terrorism?" Jensen, a Texas journalism professor and antiwar activist seeks to answer that question on a somewhat more conceptual level than is usual, suggesting that American political culture needs to be as much of a target for activists as the actual policies of U.S. Empire. He first argues against some of the central myths of that culture, such as the notion that the U.S. is the "Greatest Nation on Earth" and that Americans need to "support the troops." He then sketches pictures of some of the broad failings of U.S. political culture, notably the failure of American intellectual culture to promote civic political engagement. He finally addresses personal questions of hope and alienation facing those who seek to change things.
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"Among those who would meet the challenge for justice, there is anger and there is hope. Robert Jensen has managed the unusual accomplishment of describing and invoking both." Phyllis Bennis, author of Before and After: U.S. Foreign Policy and the September 11th Crisis and Calling the Shots: How Washington Dominates Today's UN

"Robert Jensen supplies a much needed citizens' manual, that explains well the evasion of moral principles that underlie appeals to patriotism, and the differences between nominal and real free speech and a vibrant versus an empty and managed democracy." Edward S. Herman, author of The Real Terror Network: Terrorism in Fact and Propaganda and The Myth of the Liberal Media

"Citizens of the Empire is vital reading for anyone and everyone who would seek to forge a viable alternative politics in modern America." Ward Churchill, author of A Little Matter of Genocide and Perversions of Justice

"Jensen makes a powerful case that we can stop being passive spectators and start being active co-creators of history." Norman Solomon, co-author, Target Iraq: What the News Media DidnĀ¹t Tell You, Executive Director, Institute for Public Accuracy

Author Robert Jensen is a professor of media law, ethics and politics at the University of Texas, Austin. He is the author of Writing Dissent: Taking Radical Ideas from the Margins to the Mainstream, among other books. He also writes for popular media, and his opinion and analytic pieces on foreign policy, politics and race have appeared in USA Today, LA Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Newsday, Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Hindu (India), Al-Ahram (Cairo), The Progressive and on web sites Alternet, Common Dreams, Counterpunch, ZNet.